science in ucd !! ...filling out my Cao

brownlad

ok...anyone IN the course wana tell me what its like...and prospects career wise???

Killer Pigeon

Did you not see the wonderful UCD Science thread on this forum?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056046947

Packed full of wonderful information and helpful tips. First port of call for people on boards.ie wanting to do science in UCD.

In general, like most degrees that aren't professionally focused nowadays, expect a couple of years of unemployment or at the very most working in restaurant, shops etc.. But don't let that get you down you'll eventually have some sort of career that's sciencey based (depending on what subjects you took). Also, do science if you're interested in it, not for how much it pays.

Ruski

I hate when people ask about careers. Everyone seems obsessed with the question of "OH WHAT CAREERS ARE IN IT" and "IS THIS DEGREE GOOD FOR A JOB BLAH BLAH". Just do whatever you're interested in.
I'm in Science, doing Maths and Physics. Not because I want a job, but because I have an interest in those subjects. I'll think about jobs later.


/rant

El Siglo

OP I would reiterate what the other posters have said here, do a course because you like it and not because of any jobs etc... that might be at the end. Also, bear this in mind, you will most certainly have to do a postgraduate course of some kind after your degree. That is almost a dead certainty at this stage, and that's where you can start thinking about jobs etc...

ironclaw

I'll also point out that job prospects in Ireland generally speaking aren't that great. You want to be as qualified (And thus employable) as you can, so like El Siglo said, your probably looking at a post-grad period of study to maximise your career potential.

Although on the flip side you can be over qualified for a job believe it or not.

WeeBushy

Just another angle of picking something you're interested in. If you do something in college you love then there is a greater chance that you will eventually find a job related to that field. A job that you would love. Woop.

If you pick a course because there are good job opportunities, there is a higher chance you'll get stuck in some profession/sector that you really aren't interested in, and you'll wish you chose something in college you really loved.

Also if you pick something you like, you'll be more passionate about it, put in that extra bit of work, maybe read up outside of course work, get involved in stuff outside of your lectures, and generally make yourself more employable than someone who did the bare minimum.

Pick what you like and are interested in and take it from there.

brownlad

hmmm you guise make a valid point....but i have heard of people who finished this course and are sitting on their arse doin sweet nothing!!

i do have an interenst in science but... i also want a nice career out of it..... and the feedback iv recieved thus far is making me a bit iffy on the course....

El Siglo

brownlad wrote: »

hmmm you guise make a valid point....but i have heard of people who finished this course and are sitting on their arse doin sweet nothing!!

Do you honestly think people like to be sitting on their arses doing nothing after getting a degree? Read a newspaper, have a look at the CSO quarterly statistics on people signing on the live register. There are no jobs in Ireland, simple as that. Whatever about working in the job you like, there are very few decent jobs left, unless you know somebody.

i do have an interenst in science but... i also want a nice career out of it..... and the feedback iv recieved thus far is making me a bit iffy on the course....

We need more scientists and engineers, it's as simple as that. The long and short of it is that doing a science course means that you might be a qualified Geologist, Botanist, Computer Scientist etc... but you have learned how to think in a certain way (e.g. more quantitative, you might know how to classify certain species of flora and fauna etc.) than other graduates, so that might be useful for jobs not specifically related to your degree.

One of the best and most respected degrees you can do is a BSc, there are way more job opportunities with this than a lot of other courses.

Just out of curiosity, what are you thinking of doing a degree in, what subject?

brownlad

I have my mind set on neuroscience and then go into medicine after i get that degree.....

ironclaw

brownlad wrote: »

I have my mind set on neuroscience and then go into medicine after i get that degree.....

With all due respect, thats 4 years plus 7 (ish) medicine years and then you could be looking at specialistion years. I presume you can trim some of that given your base degree. All told thats almost 11 years of study. Fee's wise you looking at anything beyond your initial course at full fee's.

Have you looked at BioMed and BioMed Engineering? If you are any way medically (Medical Doctor etc) inclined, I would urge you to go straight into medicine. Its too long a road to do a science degree first.

WeeBushy

brownlad wrote: »

hmmm you guise make a valid point....but i have heard of people who finished this course and are sitting on their arse doin sweet nothing!!

i do have an interenst in science but... i also want a nice career out of it..... and the feedback iv recieved thus far is making me a bit iffy on the course....

In fairness people coming out of most courses are unemployed or continuing their education. Its not just science.

And if you want a nice job, science and technology are probably going to be one of the biggest growth sectors in the future (sustainable energy, IT etc etc). So while a science degree does not qualify you as something specific (doctor/vet/engineer etc), it gives you many options which can be a plus - not putting all your eggs in the one basket, so to speak.

brownlad

ironclaw wrote: »

With all due respect, thats 4 years plus 7 (ish) medicine years and then you could be looking at specialistion years. I presume you can trim some of that given your base degree. All told thats almost 11 years of study. Fee's wise you looking at anything beyond your initial course at full fee's.

Have you looked at BioMed and BioMed Engineering? If you are any way medically (Medical Doctor etc) inclined, I would urge you to go straight into medicine. Its too long a road to do a science degree first.

i cant get the points for medicine ... if there's another pathway lemme know...:o im sure there is another pathway...i haven't found it yet

WeeBushy

Graduate entry or going abroad are the other options to direct entry.

I know quite a few people just starting, or applying for graduate entry, and a couple who have gone to Hungary to study medicine.

Its a slog alright, but if its something you really want to do then go for it. You will not be earning till your late 20s, but it is a vocation and if you want it bad enough, then that sacrifice shouldn't matter to you.

brownlad

WeeBushy wrote: »

Graduate entry or going abroad are the other options to direct entry.

I know quite a few people just starting, or applying for graduate entry, and a couple who have gone to Hungary to study medicine.

Its a slog alright, but if its something you really want to do then go for it. You will not be earning till your late 20s, but it is a vocation and if you want it bad enough, then that sacrifice shouldn't matter to you.

im doin my leaving this year... but thanks anyway....... and what were u saying about biomedical science??

WeeBushy

brownlad wrote: »

im doin my leaving this year... but thanks anyway....... and what were u saying about biomedical science??

Was just giving the other options were you not to get the points for medicine and want to do it after a primary degree.

I didn't say anything about biomedical science, that was ironclaw, but two guys I was in school with did a year of it before being accepted into medicine in England.

aine92

ironclaw wrote: »

With all due respect, thats 4 years plus 7 (ish) medicine years and then you could be looking at specialistion years. I presume you can trim some of that given your base degree. All told thats almost 11 years of study. Fee's wise you looking at anything beyond your initial course at full fee's.

Have you looked at BioMed and BioMed Engineering? If you are any way medically (Medical Doctor etc) inclined, I would urge you to go straight into medicine. Its too long a road to do a science degree first.

I'm in first year doing Neuroscience at the moment and I'm fully intending on continuing on to med after my 4 years so I think I might be of some help here First and foremost, dont underestimate Neuro, its a tough course, lots and lots of maths and chemistry and biology, a touch of physics and plenty of work. Its 4 years long, and as far as I know (I could be wrong, dont mark my words!!) but GradMed is 4 years long so considering the crappy economy, you'd almost be glad to have something to do. But each to their own! Also, be warned that GradMed is €15,000 per year :eek:

With regards to saying go into medicine first, I would really really really say thats bad advice. Now in saying that, by all means go for it and if you get it I'm over the moon for you, but if you don't it might not be such a bad thing.. I missed out on Medicine by 20 points between the LC and HPAT and I was absolutely devastated beyond consolation, but now I'm SO glad that I didn't get it. A friend of mine is doing med in TCD, he got 600 points in the LC, something ridiculous like 210 in the HPAT and was offered round zero medicine. He took it, obviously, and now hes really struggling with its difficulty and workload. He said the Grads in his class are leaps and bounds ahead of the undergrads, they're more focused and just more mature for the course. He is struggling to the point where he is considering dropping out, and he is one of the most intelligent and driven people I know.

Its a serious decision to make so make it wisely! But neuro is great, its lovely having such a small class, we're all best friends after 3 months Good luck in the LC and all that follows!

aine92

Oh and also, I think its this year that theres no more denominated Science in UCD, you have to do first year science and get the grades to qualify you into denominated the following year!

CrazyBiscuit

My module coordinator told us that denominated entry will be gone from next year so you will have to get good grades in first year Science to get the denominated you want in second year.

I wouldn't recommend doing something you don't like. It would be hard to motivate yourself otherwise. Choose Science because you have a passion for it. If you do do Science and plan to go on and do Graduate Medicine you must be prepared to get quite good grades throughout the 4 years and then do the GAMSAT.

Good luck with whatever you choose

brownlad

CrazyBiscuit wrote: »

My module coordinator told us that denominated entry will be gone from next year so you will have to get good grades in first year Science to get the denominated you want in second year.

I wouldn't recommend doing something you don't like. It would be hard to motivate yourself otherwise. Choose Science because you have a passion for it. If you do do Science and plan to go on and do Graduate Medicine you must be prepared to get quite good grades throughout the 4 years and then do the GAMSAT.

Good luck with whatever you choose

:P ... ah thanks ...are you enjoying it yourself ????

aine92

CrazyBiscuit wrote: »

My module coordinator told us that denominated entry will be gone from next year so you will have to get good grades in first year Science to get the denominated you want in second year.

I wouldn't recommend doing something you don't like. It would be hard to motivate yourself otherwise. Choose Science because you have a passion for it. If you do do Science and plan to go on and do Graduate Medicine you must be prepared to get quite good grades throughout the 4 years and then do the GAMSAT.

Good luck with whatever you choose

This is like Spiderman...which of us are you? :cool:

CrazyBiscuit

brownlad wrote: »

... ah thanks ...are you enjoying it yourself ????

No problem, yes I am enjoying it, it interests me a good deal and as a bonus the people are great too.
Have a think about it, if I remember correctly the CAO involves some consideration.

aine92 wrote: »

This is like Spiderman...which of us are you? :cool:

Can't go giving away state secrets now can we? :rolleyes: